Setting Goals!

I feel like I always have a trillion things on my to-do list. I'm constantly writing new ideas and tasks down on any kind of paper I can get my hands on at the moment (read: sticky notes, scraps of paper, napkins, etc). I realized that more often than not, I misplace these scraps of paper and won't find them until later, usually too late to need them any more. So I decided to do something about it and and create a system of note taking and goal-setting that works wonders for me!

I created a system of Goal-Setting. At the beginning of each month I create a list of my 'Monthly Goals.' I include everything from personal goals, TPT product goals, and school tasks. Any and everything I can think of goes on the list. I will come back to it and add more throughout the month, if needed.

At the beginning of each week, I pull back out my Monthly Goal list. I choose 4-6 monthly goals and add them to my Weekly Goals list. I then create my Daily Top 3 list. I try to include 1 Weekly Goal in my Top 3, and then 2 smaller tasks that have to be done that may not be on my big to-do list (usually household chores!)

Every day, I check in to my Daily Top 3 and complete each task. When they are completed I check them off. This is the best part--I check it off in my Top 3, Weekly Goal list, and in my Monthly Goal list. Talk about feeling productive! 

I'm telling you, these have been a huge help in my sanity and productivity! I have these Goal Setting Organization templates for FREE in my TPT Store. I'd love for you to grab it and hopefully find it as useful as I do! 

Leave a comment letting me know any tips or tricks you may have in keeping up with your goals, or staying productive! 

How Did I End Up Here?

For quite a while I have immersed myself in the world of teacher collaboration. I've loved following the blogs of teachers, spent hours scrolling through Teachers Pay Teachers, and following the Instagram pages of other teachers. I loved getting to peek into other classrooms and would get inspired by the creativity of the teachers who ran them. All of these online collaborative sites encouraged me to create materials for my classroom. Then, I started posting a few of these materials in my own Teacher Pay Teachers store. I figured if I am making them for myself, I may as well put it up for others. And that's where my teacher collaboration ended.

And then....

Enter periscope:

Graphic Created by Glitter Meets Glue

All of these amazing teachers that I followed through IG, TPT, and blog-world were now live broadcasting themselves in a format where anyone following can interact through comments and hearts. And I was just taken in by the possibilities of the whole thing. So, I was inspired to create my own Instagram (separate from my personal use IG). Immediately I began to feel connected to other educators with the same philosophies as me. What a cool feeling!

And then something crazy happened...

Little, shy, scared me decided to do my own broadcast. It was TERRIFYING. I had no idea if anyone would watch, what they would think, and really what I would say. But I did it. And the feedback I got was in-cred-i-ble! Never before in my life have I so quickly felt connected to others in a way that was so genuine and real.

I realized there are so many teachers like me--new to the TPT, blogging, collaborative world. Wanting to dive in, but not sure how. And suddenly, there became this whole small-fish movement of small time teachers like me wanting to fully immerse themselves into the teacher-collaboration-world. There were so many in support of this idea, big fish, small fish, and everything in between--Christina from Hanging Around in Primary, Angie from Lucky Little Learners, and Janice (@1islandlover on periscope) are just a few who hopped right on board. Then Katie from Pop into Primary created the picture below,  and I was hooked (pun fully intended)!

Which brings me here. Blogging. Another time that I am jumping into something new (and maybe a little overwhelming and scary), but I know I'm surrounded by this wonderful school of people (fish of all sizes) and couldn't be more excited!

A quick Introduction

Hello!

My name is Erica. I am second grade teacher from south florida. I love everything about 2nd grade--the cute missing teeth smiles, the amazing growth they make throughout the year (physically and academically), and the jokes they make up--gosh, don't you just love kid jokes?! (My personal favorite: "What do you call a vampire in the oven? A vam-pie!" I mean, c'mon it's just so ridiculous you have to laugh!)

I am married to my high school sweetheart, Justin. We met at 13 years old and started dating when we were 15. Justin is my absolute best friend and I am so lucky to share so many life experiences with him. At this point we've known each other for over half our lives. Crazy, right? Though we don't have kids, we do have a big baby, Logan. He's a rescue mutt and spoiled rotten.

This is my first attempt to enter the blogging world--so please bare with my not so pretty blog. I've got lots to learn!